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Support the Community Gardens District in CB3

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TONIGHT we go before Community Board 3 with a proposal to establish a Community Garden District on the Lower East Side. We have 46 community gardens within a square mile, they are run strictly by volunteers. The status of the gardens are fragile given the immense pressures for development. We need your support, numbers matter. Please take a moment and sign this online petition below to support our proposal.
https://www.change.org/p/city-of-new-york-establish-a-community-gardens-district-that-includes-all-community-gardens-within-community-board-3-and-map-and-designate-these-gardens-as-parklands

Support for the Community Gardens District

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By now you should all know that there is a proposal afoot to create a Community Gardens District in our neighborhood. This week the Parks Committee of Community Board 3 will be voting on the proposal.

This is the first very important step in a long process which we hope will ultimately insure permanence for all 46 of our gardens.
If the committee approves the proposal, it will then go before the entire Community Board by the end of this month. If CB3 votes in favor, Rosie Mendez will introduce a bill of similar intent in the City Council.

Right now we need to stand together to make sure this passes in CB3. This opportunity that we can’t afford to squander.

Support and momentum have been building for a Community Gardens District. Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer has said she would support the proposal if CB3 votes in favor.

This may be the only chance we get to have the City to formally protect our gardens and to recognize the significance they play in our unique community.
Please show your support by coming to the BRC Senior Services Center – 30 Delancey Street (btwn Chrystie & Forsyth Sts) this Thursday, January 15 at 6:30pm.

Many gardens have written letters of support for creating the Community Gardens District. If your garden hasn’t written a letter yet there is still time. Send your letters to Ayo Harrington at ayoharrington@aol.com.

BELOW IS THE PROPOSAL BEING INTRODUCED ON THURSDAY–We NEED People to Come out in support of this effort . THINK GREEN–STAND TALL

Coalition to Establish a Community Gardens District

Proposal: We seek to establish a Community Gardens District to include all community gardens located within the boundaries of Community Board 3 (CB3), in Manhattan. These gardens would be mapped and designated as parks land, named a special district and continue to be managed by community based volunteers.

Background: CB3 is the birthplace of community gardens in New York City and New York State. The very first one was established in CB3, in 1973, by local resident and artist, Liz Christy. Working to reverse years of decline and neglect by public and private property owners, Christy began seed bombing (mud balls filled with seeds) abandoned, rubble strewn lots in an effort to improve her own environment and create public green spaces. Not satisfied with just seed bombing, Christy gathered friends and fellow artists to reclaim and clear one such lot on East Houston Street – between Bowery and Second Avenue – to turn into a community garden. Originally named “Bowery-Houston Farm and Community Garden”, after her death in 1985 it was renamed in her honor as the “Liz Christy Bowery-Houston Garden”.

Christy and her fellow activists founded the urban gardening group, Green Guerillas, and Christy went on to become the first Director of the Council on the Environment of New York City’s Open Space Greening Program which is named now and branded as Grow NYC. Today, the Green Guerillas remain the City’s oldest gardening organization and continues to “cultivate partnerships between people who care about the earth and believe in the power of community gardening to transform neighborhoods.”

At one time, there were fifty seven registered community gardens in CB3 and dozens more operating on their own. However, as the neighborhood evolved, gardeners were forced to fight for the very land they spent incalculable hours and resources developing as real estate speculators were handed lots for practically nothing. Sadly, gardens were bulldozed, one by one.

Status: There are still forty-six community gardens located in CB3 giving CB3 the distinction of having the highest density and concentration of community gardens in New York City, New York State and perhaps the country. The City-owned community gardens are mostly housed under the jurisdiction of the Department of Parks and Recreation giving the illusion that they are permanent. They are not. Whether housed under Parks, Sanitation or HPD, as some are, no CB3, City-owned community garden is mapped as parks land or otherwise designated as being permanent. Even with the storied history and widely acknowledged benefits of community gardens, all City-owned community gardens are still documented in City records as vacant lots and are subject to revocation at any time.

Conclusion: Community Board 3 has been strengthened by the history of its community gardens which hold the distinction of having a forty one year old, deep rooted history solidly ingrained in the fabric of our community. Today, the Liz Christy Bowery-Houston Garden and its history are studied and known worldwide. It and other CB3 community gardens have become New York City destinations. Year after year the soil is worked, flowers are planted, food is grown, events are planned, meetings take place, neighbors interact, memories are made, and our community is strengthened.

Given the significance of the gardening movement history that is particular to CB3, along the uniqueness of highly concentrated gardens, these community gardens should be mapped and designated as parks land, named a special district and continue to be managed by community based volunteers.

Viva Siempre Verde!

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LAST night, October 14, the Land Use, Zoning, Public & Private Housing Committee of Community Board 3 voted to reject a plan to build a 16 unit apartment building on the garden site which had been proposed by the developer, William Gottlieb and NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development.

The Committee’s resolution will now go before the entire Community Board. The Committee voted to rescind a CB3 vote that took place two and a half years ago that supported the project. In October 2012, Siempre Verde Garden was founded and has become an integral and beloved part of the neighborhood.

The development proposal hinged on New York City giving the developer the two city owned lots, which are now make up Siempre Verde Garden. In exchange for the city property the developer agreed to include three affordable apartment units in the building. Many gardeners came out in support of Siempre Verde at this meeting. A discussion followed questioning if this proposal was the best use of this property given the dearth of green spaces in CB 3 south of Houston Street and whether just three affordable housing units was a good deal for the neighborhood. The Committee was very sympathetic to community concerns and voted accordingly. Great News!

Today, October 15, New York State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver came out today in support of Siempre Verde!
Speaker Silver said: “The Siempre Verde Garden is a vital green space that is enjoyed by so many of our neighbors. Here on the Lower East Side, public parks and gardens are at a premium and we cannot afford to lose this important community treasure. I urge the city to transfer this land to Parks Department so that it can be made a permanent community garden now and into the future.”
Right now the city property that Siempre Verde Garden rests on is under the jurisdiction of HPD, by transferring it to the Parks Department, this community garden will receive another level of protection.
Congratulations to all the Siempre Verde people who worked so hard to put together a very effective presentation last night at the CB3 Committee meeting and also set up a support petition drive for the garden that got over 900 signatures. Also Bill LoSasso, a community gardener, who sits on the committee was instrumental in drafting a proposal to move the garden into the Parks Department. Fantastic!

Here’s how it was reported:
Bowery Boogie
The Low Down
The Real Deal
The Villager

LUNGS Climate Convergence Schedule

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Children’s Garden | 11th St. Btwn Aves B & C
4:00-5:30 pm
People’s Climate Elders Meet-up

Tompkins Square Park Gaia Tree (near southern entrance)
4:00-5:30 pm
People’s Climate Bike Bloc and Fracking Meet-ups

La Plaza Cultural | Ave C & 9th St
10:45 am-2:00 pm
New York City Urban Farming: Growing a Just Food System | Barbara Sibley, Onika Abraham, Anandi Premlall, Mark Dunlea | LUNGS (Loisaida United Neighborhood Gardens)

12:30-2:00 pm
Reimagining Science and Engineering for 21st Century Struggles | Darshan Karwat | American Association for the Advancement of Science Fellow

2:15-3:45 pm
Overcoming Climate Change Denial and Silence | George Marshall | Climate Outreach Information Network

El Jardin del Paraiso | 4th St Btwn Ave C & D
10:45 am-12:15 pm
Decolonizing Climate Justice | Free University

4:00-5:30 pm
Bread and Puppet Theater

Orchard Alley | 4th St Btwn Aves C & D
4:00-5:30 pm
People’s Climate Tar Sands Meet-up

Peach Tree Garden 2nd St Btwn B & C
4:00-5:30 pm
People’s Climate Indigenous Peoples Meetup

Albert’s Garden | 2nd St btwn Bowery & 2nd Ave
4:00-5:30 pm
People’s Climate Public Health Meet-up

Elizabeth St Garden | Elizabeth St. Btwn Prince and Spring Sts.
12:30-2:00 pm
The Climate Ribbon: A Creative Ritual for Climate Justice (workshop) | Rae Abileah, Andrew Boyd, Gan Golan | Beautiful Trouble

2:15-3:45 pm
The Climate Ribbon: A Creative Ritual for Climate Justice (volunteer orientation)| Rae Abileah, Andrew Boyd, Gan Golan | Beautiful Trouble

4:00-5:30 pm
People’s Climate Vegan and Yoga and Spirituality Meet-ups

Firemen’s Memorial Garden | 8th St Btwn Ave C & D
10:45 am-12:15 pm
Non-violent Direct Action Training | #FloodWallStreet, BeyondTheMarch.org

4:00-5:30 pm
People’s Climate Impacted Shorefront Communities Meet-up

Miracle Garden | 3rd St Aves A & B
4:00-5:30 pm
People’s Climate Boston Meet-up

Kenkeleba House Garden | 2nd St Btwn Aves B & C
4:00-5:30 pm
People’s Climate California Meet-up

M’Funga Kalinda Community Garden | Rivington St Btwn Christie and Forsyth
10:45 am-12:15 pm
People’s Movement Assemblies and the U.S. Social Forum as Tools for Transformation | Angela Vogel, Walda Katz-Fishman, Alfredo Lopez, Rob Robinson| US Social Forum

12:30-2:00 pm
Climate Justice in the Workplace | Mathew Plummer | 99 Pickets

4:00-5:30 pm
People’s Climate White-Anti-Racist Activist and Great March for Climate Action Meetups

Children’s Magical Garden | 129 Stanton St
10:45 am-12:15 pm
Mobilizing Families and Children for Climate Action | Dave Finnigan | Climate Change is Elementary

St. Marks Church | 131 E 10th St
9:00-10:30 am
Convergence Roundtable | Tim DeChristopher, Richard Monje, Maureen Taylor, Cathy Sampson-Kruse, Tarik Kauff | Global Climate Convergence

10:45 am-12:15 pm
Building a Unified Movement for People, Planet, Peace over Profit | Jill Stein, Cheri Honkala, Lauren Regan, Margaret Flowers, Jacqui Patterson, Nancy Romer, George Martin| Global Climate Convergence

12:30-2:00 pm
Green and Red: Nature Bats Last | Ben Manski, Cheri Honkala, Art Shegonee, Howie Hawkins, Gloria Mattera | Liberty Tree Foundation

2:15-3:45 pm
A Global Climate Strike: What will it take? | Kevin Zeese, Ben Manski, Alnoor Ladha, Leland Pan, Jill Stein, Victor Wallis, Cheri Honkala | Liberty Tree Foundation

Graffiti Church | 205 E 7th St | 1st Fl
9:00-10:30 am
A Green Political Alternative to the Two Parties of Capital | Howie Hawkins, Brian Jones, Kshama Sawant | New York State Green Party, International Socialist Organization, Socialist Alternative

10:45 am-12:15 pm
She Who Watches – Tsagaglalal (suh-GOGla-lal) | Cathy Sampson-Kruse, Mariah Morning Rose Sampson | Walla Walla Tribe of the Confederated Tribes of Umatilla – Oregon,

12:30-2:00 pm
You Are Here: Mapping the Fracking Boom in New York State | Patrick Robbins, Asha Canalos, Maura Stephens, Anne Marie Garti, Zephyr Teachout | Sane Energy Project

2:15-3:45 pm
Apocalypse How? Climate Change, the Political-Economy of Energy, and Reigniting the Radical Imagination | Arun Gupta, Eddie Yuen, Doug Henwood, Frances Fox Piven

4:00-5:30 pm
Labor and the Fight for a Just Transition to an Ecologically Sustainable Society | Jeremy Brecher, Bruce Hamilton, Carole Ramsden, Sean Petty | System Change Not Climate Change

Graffiti Church | 205 E 7th St | 2nd Fl
9:00-10:30 am
The Front-lines: Perspectives from the Global South Isso Nihmei (Pacific Islands) Martin Mullally (Argentina) Juan Pedro Chang (Peru) Fatimata Niang Diop (Senegal) | 350.org

10:45 am-12:15 pm
Climate Justice: Perspectives from Africa, the Middle East and Southeast Asia | Omer Madra (Turkey) Mithika Mwenda (Kenya) Desmond D’sa (South Africa) Vaishali Patil (India) Efleda Bautista (Philippines) |
350.org

12:30-2:00 pm
Latin American Social Movements, Climate Justice, and Indigenous Rights | Martin Mullally (Argentina) Martin Vilela (Bolivia) Juan Pedro Chang (Peru) Jim Shultz (Bolivia) | 350.org

2:15-3:45 pm
What Now for Climate Justice? Proposing Radical Climate Justice for the 2015 Global Climate Treaty | John Foran, Richard Widick, Lidy Nacpil, Michael Dorsey, Patrick Bond | International Institute of Climate
Action and Theory, System Change Not Climate Change

4:00-5:30 pm
Now that the U.S. Supports “Climate-Smart Agriculture” Is Reform of Our Climate-Dumb Food System Possible? | Ronnie Cummins, Adam Sacks, Tara Ritter, Elizabeth Kucinich | Organic Consumers Association’s Cook Organic, Not the Planet Campaign

Sixth Street Community Center | 638 E 6th St #4
9:00-10:30 am
The Climate Crisis is a Democracy Crisis: Why We Need a Democratic Revolution in the U.S. | Adam Porton, Leland Pan, Suren Moodliar, Virginia Rasmussen, George Martin | Liberty Tree Foundation

10:45 am-12:15 pm
Politics of Renewable Energy | Brian Tokar, Rachel Smolker, Anya Schoolman | Institute for Social Ecology

12:30-2:00 pm
Native American Voices from the Front Lines of the Climate Justice Movement | Brian Ward, Vanessa Braided Hair, Jihan Gearon | System Change Not Climate Change, ISO

2:15-3:45 pm
An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States | Ragina Johnson, Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz | System Change Not Climate Change

4:00-5:30 pm
Native American Resistance in the 21st Century: Idle No More and the Climate Justice Movement | Ragina Johnson, Erica Violet Lee, Brian Ward | ISO, Idle No More

Museum of Reclaimed Urban Spaces (MoRUS) Video Room | 155 Avenue C | www.morusnyc.org
10:45 am-12:15 pm
Visual Realities of Climate Change: Food, Communities, and Landscapes | Mia MacDonald, Hazel Zhang, Carolyn Monastra, Wanqing Zhou | Brighter Green

12:30-2:00 pm
Performing the Climate Movement; Strategies For Sting Narrative in Climate Performance | Elizabeth Doud | Fund Art Inc

2:15-3:45 pm
How To Build System Change Not Climate Change | Zach Rosenblatt, Laura Bartkowiak, Claire Arkin, Brad Hornick | System Change Not Climate Change

Museum of Reclaimed Urban Spaces (MoRUS) Main Space | 155 Avenue C | www.morusnyc.org
10:45 am-12:15 pm
Stories of Resistance: Confronting Extreme Energy & the Infrastructure of Climate Change | Maura Stephens, Steve Horn, Valerie Jean, Patrick Robbins, Karen Feridun | System Change Not Climate Change

12:30-2:00 pm
Wangari Maathai: The Green Belt Movement’s Environmental Legacy and Future | Lauren Berger, Mia MacDonald, Lisa Merton, Wanjira Mathai | The Green Belt Movement

2:15-3:45 pm
Sharing Your Story to Move the Movement! | Cherri Foytlin, Bryan Parras, Karen Savage | Life Support Project/ Bridge the Gulf Project

4:00-5:30 pm
Water Wars: Cochabamba, Gaza, Detroit | Oscar Olivera, Valerie Blakely, Yasmine Kamel | System Change Not Climate Change